Convertible chair



J. K. PRASSAS CONVERTIBLE CHAIR Aug. 31, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJan. 27, 1949 .[zzVEnLw Jolzzz EPraasas g- 31, 1954 J. K. PRASSAS2,687,766

CONVERTIBLE cmun Filed Jan. 27, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet a In Val-alar- Jolznit. Prassaa Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED? {STATES hATENT OFFICE 12,687,766 CONVERTIBLE CHAIR John KrPrassas, Chicago, Ill. ApplicationJanuary 27, 1949, Serial No. 73,023

a l The present inventionrelates to'aconvertible chairand moreparticularly to al chair which may readily be converted to a reclininchair or a bed upon a mere shifting ofthe weight of a person sitting inthe chair;

Chairs which are convertible into a reclining position or into a bed arewell known in the art and many variousmechanical movements and otherexpedients have been proposed for use for causing relative movements ofthe various parts of the chair to convert the samefinto a recliningchair or a bed upon a mere shifting of the weight or a person seated inthe chair.

The chair is provided withmeans for defining at least three distinct andseparate relatively adjusted positions of the chair back with respect tothe chair seat. Inthe first of the adjusted positions the chair backextends substantially normal to the chair seat, so that a person sittingin the chair would be in what is hereinafter termed an upright position.In the second relatively adjusted position the back and the seat definean obtuse angle, with the person seated r in thechair occupying areclining position.

During movement of thechair back to this reclinting position amechanical linkage is actuated to move a leg and foot support which ispivotally connected to the chair seat opposite the chair back, so thatthe legs of the sitter may be extended into a comfortable position. Thethirdchair position is one in which the chair seat, chair back, and legand foot support extend in substantially a horizontal plane so that aperson seated thereon may recline at full length, as in abed. It shouldbe appreciated that more than one reclining posil tion may be provided,since the angle between the chair back and seat maybe varied to suit"the desires of a person seated therein.

fI'he adjustment of the chair to the various reclining positions and tothebed position may be carried out by the mere shiftin of Weight of aperson seated in the chair, although preferably movement of the chair. pFor example, to move the chair from an upright position to arecliningposition it is only ,nec-

a catch assembly is provided to prevent undue -essary that a personseated in the chair exert extra pressure backwards'against thechairback.

11 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This pressure against the back actuates thechair mechanism to cause the seat to slide forwardly and upwardly andthe back downwardly and backwardly. Forward movement of the chair seataetuates the leg and foot rest linkage to pivot the foot and leg restinto position in alignment with the chair seat. Further backwardpressure against the chair back causes the seat mechanism to moveforwardly to a greater extent with the chair back being lowered until,in the final, or bed position, the chair back, the chair seat and thefoot and leg rest are in a. single horizontal plane. The variousreclining and bed positions may be suitably defined by an overbalancedcatch 7 mechanism to prevent the accidental shifting of the chair.

The chair actuating linkage and construction is so arranged that uponthe removal of pressure or weight from the chair back, the chair isreturned to its initial upright position automatically, so that it isunnecessary to return the chair manually to its normal position.

The simple, readily operable chair reclining mechanism is entirelycarried by a pair of stationary side chair frames, with the chair seatand back being suspended therebetween. Further, the mechanism forshifting the position of the back and the chair seat employs no springsOr other complicated mechanisms, thus greatly reducing the cost of thedevice andalso maintenance expense. Also, a sliding back supportingstructure is provided so that there may be no uncomfortable relativemovement between the sitters back and the back of the chair duringshifting of the chair position.

Fromthe foregoing general description of the Chairi t he advantagesresiding in my improved construction will readily be appreciated bythose skilled in the art, both in the inexpensive, easily manufacturedconstruction of the chair and the ease of operation, together with theautomatic return of the chair to an upright position upon the removal ofpressure from the chair back.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to providea convertible chair of simple and economical construction, the chairbeing capable of movement into a plurality of relatively adjustedpositions upon a person in the chair merely shifting his weight.

a plurality of adjustable parts connectedby irfe'ans of mechanicallinkages to" form a chair 3 seat. a chair back and a foot and leg restcapable of relative movement to an upright, a reclining and a bedposition upon a mere shifting of pressure applied to one or more of thecomponent parts of the chair, with the chair being automaticallyreturned to its initial position in the absence of such pressure.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide animproved convertible chair construction having a seat, a back and a footand leg rest mechanically linked together for relative movement, theseat being moved upwardly and forwardly upon the exertion of pressureupon the back, the seat and back being moved to relatively adjustedposition upon such movement of the seat and the foot andv leg rest beingmoved into alignment with'the seat upon the relative movement of theback and seat.

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide animproved convertible chair construction including a seat, a back and afoot and leg rest linked together for coincidental movement between apair of spaced chair sides, the entire weight of the chair being carriedby the chair sides with the back, seat and leg rest being capable ofrelative 'movement into a plurality of adjusted positions therebetweenupon the shifting of weight of a person seated in the chair.

Other and further important objects of this invention. will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the frame of a chair of thepresent invention, the operating parts of the chair being positioned inupright position;

- Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating in full. outlinethe position of the operating parts of the chair in reclining position,and in dotted outline the position of the chair in the bed position;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken in the plane III-III of Figure1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the planeIV--IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentaryrview of the foot and leg rest showingmovementof the rest .to its extended position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the position of the footand leg rest during its folding, movement from its extended position;and

Figure '7 is a broken, fragmentary view of a chair back frame member.

As shown on thedrawings:

In Figure 1 the reference numeral II] refers generally to a chair of thepresent invention comprising a pair of spaced parallel upright sideframe members II, a pair of longitudinally disposed parallel seat sideframes I2 supported between upright side frames II, and a pair ofparallel back frame members I3 hingedly connected to the seat framemembers I2 and to the side frame members I I.

It will be readily understood, although only one of eachof the membersII, I2 and I3 areshown in Figure 1, that two such members are provided,together with the requisite cross bracing members to maintain therelative position of the frame members when assembled. The cross bracingmembers may be placed in such position that they do not interfere withthe operation of the chair, as, for example, the members I4 shown inbers Figure 1. It is also understood that the mechanism of the chair issuch that the chair may be padded or upholstered by conventional meansto the general outline indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. The seatupholstery and seat springs are carried by the seat I2, as will beevident to those skilled in the art, while the side frames II providepadded chair arms. 7

Each of the side frames II, as illustrated in Figure 1, is formed of apair of parallel upright side bracingmembers I5, an upper longitudinallyextending bracing member I6 joining the mem- I5, an intermediate bracingmember I'I parallel to member I6 and secured to member I5, and a lowerbracing member I8 also connecting the members I5. An inclined guidewayor slot is provided by parallel inclined guide members I9 extendingbetween members I? and .18, a second inclined member being provided inclosely spaced relation to one of the members I9 to provide anadditional second parallel guiding surface for a purpose to behereinafter more fully described.

The seat side frames I2 are guided for movement between the sideframes lI by means of the inclined members I9 and 20. The seat side frame tactsone of the inclined members I9 in rolling engagement therewith. As shownin Figure 1, either one or both of the rollers 23 maybe mount- ;edbetween closely spaced members I9 and 20,

so that the roller is guided at diametrically opposed points throughoutthe entire length of that -member I9. Preferably, one of the members I9is provided with a curved stop surface 25 to stop further movement ofroller 23.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that seat I2 is journaledthrough rollers 23 for both vertical and horizontal movement relative tothe side frame members II. This movement V may preferably be controlledby means of a catch mechanism illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4, thecatch mechanism comprising a pair of overbalancedlever arms, includingan arm 26 pivoted, as by a screw 21, to horizontal bracing members I8 ofthe side frame II, and a second lever arm 28 pivoted as at 29 to adepending flange 30 secured to upper horizontal frame member 2|."

'I' heilever arm 26 extends upwardly through a strap .3I carriedby arm28 and loosely enclosing a portion of the arm 26. The arm 26 bearsagainst the pin 32 extending between the strap 3| and the arm 28. Thelever arms 26 and 28 are thus capable of relative movement upon movementof seat I2 relative to the side frames II. The upper surface of arm 26is notched at a plurality of spaced points, as at 33, While the freelyextending edge 34 of arm 28 is provided with an integral inturne'dflange 35 overlying arm 26 and adapted to engage the notch 33 uponrelative movement of the arms 26 and 28. A button 28a. is provided onthe upper end of arm 28,

, depression of this button 28a causing a lifting of ,fiange 35 from anotch 33 within which it might 68 secured to the member 2|.

pivoted through pin 69 to a link arm 10, the arm *be 'seated, to allowfurther; relative movement of seat [2 and side frames II.

As best shown in Figures land 6, of the drawings, the chairbackconstruction comprises a pair ,of para-lleln'side frame supportingmembers 36 (only one of \whichis shown) ,hingedly connected to, the,upper, horizontal seat frame, members 2| by means of a hinge 31;The-member 36 carries an arm' 38 secured thereto, and extending, normalto the member 36, the arm L38being pivoted by a also serves to carry asliding back member 43 5 supported in spaced relation to member 36 by apair of rollers 44 and 45 journaled inside mounting flanges 46 carriedby the member 43. Roller 44 contacts one surface of member 38 whileroller 5 45 contacts a guiding rib 41 carried by the same surface ofmember36. Movement of member 43 uponrotation of rollers 44 and 45 isguided by a side flange 49carried by member 36 and by addiqtionalflanges 49 secured to member 36 and extending over member 43. A spring59 is carried by a flange 5! secured to the member 36 and a secondflange 52 secured to member 43, so that the members 43 and 36 areurgedto their respective relative positions, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, bythe spring 50. i

A foot rest, generally indicated at 53 in Figures 1,, 2, Sand 6, iscarried by the seat I2. As best shown in Figures 4 and 5, the foot rest53 includes an elongated member 54 having one end pivoted,

as by pin 55, to a flange 56 carried by upright seat member 22 oppositethe point of attachment of the back l3 to the seat [2. The member 54 isprovided with canupper supporting surface 5lsecu red thereto throughflanges 58.

An extension member 59 is linked through the seat member 22 through afirst link arm 60 pivoted about a pin 66a to themember 54, by a pin 6!linking one extremitybf arm 60 to the extension 59 and a second pin 62linking the opposite extremity of arm 69 to a second link arm63pivotally connected by a pin 64 to a flange 65 secured tot-he member 22beneath flange 56. i The arm' 54 propris linked to a camming arm 66,pivotally connected to the lower seat side framemember 2| about pin 6!carried by flange Cam arm 66 is 76' being pivoted to member 54 as by pinll.

Arm"l0is provided with an integrally formed flange 72 (Figure 6)overlying the adjacent end of cam arm 66. That end of cam arm 66opposite pin 69 is formed into a dependent leg portion 13 having opposedcamming surfaces 14 and 15. A pair of pins 16 and T! are carried bymember 18 extending between side frameupright member and an adjacentportion of horizontally extending side frame supporting member l8.

- The operation of the convertible chair of the present invention willbe apparent to those 1 skilled in the art from the foregoingdescription. Itwill readily be seen that the back l3,'hinged to theseat12 by hinge 31, willserve as a lever 'to effect movement A of the A seatwhen pressure is exerted upon the back. Thus, .whenthe chair 6 is innormal position and pressure is exerted upon the back, such pressurewill-be transmitted-by the back about its attachment to the side frameI28 engaging the notches 3301f arm 26 member l5; as afulcrum to causemovement of the seat 12. Movement of seat I2 is guidedby against thecorresponding guide l9,. while "the rear rollers 23 .bear upwardlyagainst ,the upper guide 26 to cause the seat to remain horizontal inits upward movement. The flang A ,of'arm 11 cause movement of the seatto, cease upon thi engagement, so that the chair remains in'a". reclinedposition. Further movement of the seatf may be caused, by pressingbutton 28a to pivot'member 28, lifting flange 35 from the notch 33 sothat further depressionof the back may cause further movement of theseat. Also, it will readily be seen that upon the removal of weight.from the back, the seat moves downwardly and backwardly with the rollersengaging theirrespective guiding surfaces to return the chair to itsnormal upright position with the'stop surface 25 preventing furthermovement of the seat from this .upright position. In the downwardmovement of the seat, the rear rollers 23 bear against the lower guideI9 with the forward rollers 23 bearing against forward guide l9.

Movement of leg and foot rest 53 is accomplished upon movement of thechair seat 12. Any forward movement of the chair will bring cammingsurface 14 into contact withpin- 16 as shown in Figure 5, causingpivoting movement ofthe cam arm 66 around pin 67,'and extending arms 66and 'lo into the position shown in Figure 2. In this position theoff-center construction of arms 66 and "I0 causesthefiange 12 to contactthe adjacent surface of cam arm 66 the overbalanced arms 66 and 19 beingforced into tighter engagement upon the placing of weight uponsupporting surface 51. At'the' same time, the leg and foot rest'is movedinto'position; the extension 59 is likewisepivoted into position toextend beyond the supporting surface 51 through the linking of arms "69,62 andl63 through the extension 59. The foot and leg rest 53; is" thuscammed into extended position upon the movement of the chair seat [2andthe chair "backl3 into the first reclined position, and the cammingportion 13 of'cam arm 66 is spaced from the pin '16 upon further forwardand upward movement of the seatto the bed position. Upon-release ofweight from the back, the chair seat and: back are returned touprightposition as 'her'ein'before described, and the camming surface 15"contacts pin 17 to cause reverse pivoting movement of the cam arm 66away from'flange l2, andthe foot and legrest isreturned to its foldedposition as shown in Figure 1.

It will be seen that theside framemember ll need not be provided withseparate guide members I9 and 20 as shown in the drawings. Side framemembers ll mayeach be made from a singlepiec'e of material with inclinedgrooves providingguiding surfaces, for the rollers 23. Similarly,f themeinber18 maybe leliminated, with the pins 16 fan dl'lbeing carriedbyuside frame members I L Also, the seatside frames. l2

' may be formed from a single piece of, material, the rollers ,1 2 3\qbeingi j'ournaled' therein and the lever arm 28 being. carriedthereby.

It-vvill, of course, be understoodthat various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, notthe purpose to limit. thepatent granted hereon 1 otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A convertible chair comprising a pair of spaced, upstanding chairside frames, a chair seat carried by said chair frames for relativemovement therebetween, interengaging means carried by said chair sideframes and said chair seat for guiding movement of said seat relative tosaid side frames, a chair back hingedly secured to said seat and to saidside frames for movement relative thereto, said seat and said back beingmovable to, a plurality of relatively adjusted upright and recliningpositions between said chairside frames, and a folding foot and leg restpivotally connected to said seat and operatively linked to said sideframes for extension into supporting position by movement of said seatand back into a reclining position.

2. Aconvertible chair comprising a pair of spaced, upright side frames,a chair seat journaled betweensaid side frames for movement verticallyand horizontally relative thereto while remaining with itsload-receiving surface horizontal, and a foldable foot and leg restpivoted to said chair seat and operatively associated with said sideframes for movement into extended position automatically by, upward andforward movement of said chair seat relative to said side frames.

3. A convertible chair comprising a pair of spaced, upright side frames,a seat journaled .between said side framesfor forward and backwardmovement relative thereto while remaining with its load-receivingsurface horizontal, and an extensible foot and leg rest pivoted to saidchair seat for extended movement upon movement of said chair seatrelative to said side frames, said foot and leg rest comprising a firstmember linked to said chair seat for camming movement against said sideframesinto extended position upon forward movement of the chair seat anda second member pivoted to the chair seat and to said first member formovement into I extended position beyond said first member upon movementof said chair seat.

. 4. A convertible chair comprising a pair of spaced, upright sideframes, a chair seat journaled between said side frames for movementvertically and horizontally relative thereto while remaining with itsload-receiving surface horizontal, a foot and leg rest pivoted to saidchair seat and actuating cam means carried by said seat and by said footand leg rest to move said rest into extended position by cammingmovement against said chair side frames upon upward and forwardmovement, of said chair seat relative to said side frames.

5. In a convertible chair having spaced, .upright side frames, a chairseat journaled between said side frames for movement relative theretoand a chair back hingedly connected to said side frames and to said seatfor movement relative thereto, a foot and leg rest comprising a firstoted to said link arm, whereby movement of said 1 chair seat relative tosaid side frames causes said '38 cam arm to move relative to said linkarm to extend said member beyond said chairv seat and in alignmenttherewith to provide a foot and leg rest for a person seated in saidchair.

6. In a convertible chair having a pair -of upright side frames, a seatjournaled between said side frames for movement relative thereto and aback pivoted to said chair seat and to said side frames for movementrelative thereto, a foot and leg extension pivoted to said chair seatcomprising a first member pivoted to said chair seat, a link armv havingone end pivoted to'said first member and its other end extending freelytherebeyond, a cam arm pivoted intermediate its lengthto said chair seatand having one extremity provided with camming surfaces for contactingsaid chair frame and its other-extremity securedto the freely extendingendof said link arm, and a second member slidably carried by said firstmember and pivotally linked to said chair seat whereby movement of saidchair seat relative to said side frames causes camming movement betweensaid cam arm and said side frames to move said link arm into positionextending said first member beyond said seat with said second memberpivotally linked to said seat being simultaneously moved to extendbeyond said first member, said first and second members when extendedlying in substantially the same plane as said seat and serving as a footand leg rest for a person seated in said chair seat.

7. A convertible chair, comprising a pair of spaced, upright chair sideframes held in parallel relation, inclined guideways provided on facingportions of said side frames, a chair seat, rollers rotatably carried bysaid seat for rolling engagement with said guideways to guide said chairfor movement between said side frames, a chair back hinged to said seatand pivoted to said side frames for movement relative to said seat andsaid frames, a member carried by said back for bearing the weight of aperson seated in said chair, said member being slidably movable relativeto said back, resilient means urging said member into adjusted positionrelative to said back, an elongated member pivoted to said seat at apoint opposite the chairbackand adapted to serve as a foot and leg rest,and camming means pivoted to said elongated member and. to said seat andmovable into bearing engagement with said side frames upon movement ofsaid chair seatrelative to said side frames to pivot said elongatedmember into extended position in alignment with seat, said chair seatand back being movable into a plurality of relatively adjusted positionsby the shifting of weight of a person seated in the chair against saidmember carried by said back with said member being movable relative tosaid back to prevent uncomfortable movement of said persons backrelative to the chair back.

8. A convertbile chair comprising a pair of spaced, upright chair sideframes providing a pair, of inclined guiding surfaces, a chair seat,anti-friction bearing means carried by said chair seat and engageablewith said inclined guiding surfaces for mounting said chair seat betweensaid side frames for movement relative thereto, chair back hingedlysecured to said side frames and to said seat for movement relativethereto, with movement of said back causing a corresponding movement ofsaid chairseat intolrelalected reclining position, a back cushion memheranti-frictionally supported on said back for sliding movement relativethereto when said chair seat and side frame are moved relative to eachother whereby said back may be adjusted without moving the back cushionrelative to the body of the occupant of the chair.

9. A convertible chair comprising a pair of spaced fixedly mounted,upright side frames, a seat movably mounted between said side frames formovement relative thereto, a chair back hingedly secured to said seatand to said chair side frames for movement relative thereto into aplurality of adjusted positions upon the application of pressure to thechair back, and back cushion means slidably carried by said chair backfor free sliding movement relative to said back when supporting the backof a user to prevent movement between said back cushion and the back ofthe user upon adjustment of the chair.

10. In a convertible chair having spaced, upright side frames, a seatjournaled between said side frames for movement relative thereto, and achair back pivotally connected to the side framesof the chair seat,means for preventing relative movement between the back of a personseated in the chair and the chair back upon movement of the backcomprising a member carried by said chair back, roller means carried bysaid member for contacting, said chair back, and resilient meansinterposed between said chair back and said member resisting relativemovement between said member and said chair back, whereby said member isfree for movement relative to said back against the action of saidresilient means to prevent relative movement between said back and theback of a per- 10 son seated in the chair and bearing against saidmember.

11. A convertible chair comprising a pair of fixed spaced, upstandingchair side frames, a chair seat adapted for relative movement betweensaid chair side frames, means mounting said seat between said sideframes for movement relative thereto, a back positioned between saidchair side frames, first hinge means securing said back to said chairseat, second hinge means connecting said back to said chair side framesfor movement relative thereto, a back cushion member sliciably mountedon said back and freely movable relative thereto, movement of said backupon pressure thereto by the occupant of the chair causing relativetilting movement between said chair seat and said back, said slidingback cushion allowing movement between the back and the back cushionmember without causing relative movement between the back cushion memberand the back of the occupant.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 9,449 Hammit Dec. 7, 1852 366,741 Sands July 19, 1887 657,363Giess Feb. 5,1901 945,928 Fowler Jan. 11, 1910 1,751,599 Prassas Mar.25, 1930 2,182,598 Owler Dec. 5, 1939 2,281,085 Bell Apr. 28, 19422,288,775 Bell July 7, 1942 2,374,848 Wohlk May 1, 1945 2,464,370 BellMar. 15, 1949

